Anyone seen those Jabba The Hutt t-shirts? They are pretty cool. If you enter the code: jobabronxblock, you can save $2.50 per tee. Get 'em while they're hot.
6 My analysis is that they are on thin ice there. It is one thing to sell T-Shirts outside the Stadium, but Geroge Lucas has shut down every site that has infringed on the Star Wars trademark. If the shirts make money, I think Lucas could articulate a pretty good trademark infringement intellectual property case. However, I do doubt it is worth the trouble. We'll see what happens if the shrts catch on.
Let em have their fun. It's a one-shot as far as I can see; more fun than enterprise and certainly a collector's item for Yankee fans this season. I hope they can keep pumping out new concepts like that when the significance is still fresh...
9 Good point. As you know, it is complicated. I have a cursory understanding of the Lantham Act from law school. There are few bright line rules, and a quick read just gave me the impression that the shirt authors may make use of a legitimate defense.
I don't think anyone would confuse the shirt as being the property of Lucas, and I don't think it serves to dilute the mark, and it may be clever enough. In other words, you may be right.
10 Oh I know. I don't care, it just gave me an opportunity to use my brain. Lucas is much like Disney in that they will spare no expense to bury you should they determine you are even in the ballpark of trademark or copyright infringement. Disney even had the rules changed to extend their ownership of Mickey.
12 Minnie Mouse: (posing, then noticing Walt Disney's glare from behind the art table, tugs her blouse down over her left shoulder and whimpers) Do I... do I have to?
Disney (sketching): You wanna be a star, right? Then TAKE IT OFF!!!
(Years later, former pitcher and current Mets "color man" Ron Darling is seen indescreetly escorting "Keisha" out of a night club in Atlanta by a very observant drummer... >;)
12 Yep. Every time Mickey's copyright is going to end under the current copyright law, Disney lobbies Congress to extend the amount of copyright protection time. You could look it up.
14 That's the kind of stuff that Disney goes after! ;)
17 Nothing would surprise me. Disney is fiercely protective of "the Disney image." There's been worse stuff over the years - some of the pics in my old copyright textbooks is pretty nasty - so it might just be old school paranoia on their part.
The MLBPA and MLB Properties (I think they still are in charge of licensed gear?) might complain about the shirts. Because if anyone should make money off Joba's nickname, its him - by which they mean them.
I bought one. That Google checkout is just a bit too easy…
And I know the Joba Jabba connection is way too easy, but doesn't anyone think Boba Fett would be a cooler comparison?
Joba Fett, the bounty hunter who's traveled from across the universe (well, Nebraska's pretty damn far from the Bronx) to return the World Series trophy to its rightful owners, the Evil Empire.
and these will quickly become vintage gear when Joba moves out of the "bullpen far far away."
Diggum.
I don't think anyone would confuse the shirt as being the property of Lucas, and I don't think it serves to dilute the mark, and it may be clever enough. In other words, you may be right.
Disney (sketching): You wanna be a star, right? Then TAKE IT OFF!!!
(Years later, former pitcher and current Mets "color man" Ron Darling is seen indescreetly escorting "Keisha" out of a night club in Atlanta by a very observant drummer... >;)
14 That's the kind of stuff that Disney goes after! ;)
The MLBPA and MLB Properties (I think they still are in charge of licensed gear?) might complain about the shirts. Because if anyone should make money off Joba's nickname, its him - by which they mean them.
And I know the Joba Jabba connection is way too easy, but doesn't anyone think Boba Fett would be a cooler comparison?
Joba Fett, the bounty hunter who's traveled from across the universe (well, Nebraska's pretty damn far from the Bronx) to return the World Series trophy to its rightful owners, the Evil Empire.
Kyle Farnsworth. Truly the gift that keeps on giving.
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